But the potentially explosive historic clash between unbeaten cruiserweights Olexsandr Usyk and Muriat Gassivev last Saturday (July 21) night turned out to be all sweetness and light; a terrific exhibition of classic box-fighting by the Ukrainian Usyk with nothing but goodwill in the build-up, hugs and smiles like long-lost brothers at the end of 12 fascinating if one-sided rounds and a show of genuine sporting appreciation by the 20,000 plus crowd at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium, scene of the Moscow Olympic boxing tournament.

A week after hosting football's World Cup final, Moscow staged what was virtually a World Cup final in cruiserweight boxing, the culmination of the inaugural World Boxing Super Series.

There was a certain irony in that it turned out to be between a Russian and a Ukrainian, but, just as in the World Cup itself, the home crowd behaved impeccably.

In winning the contest Usyk became the first holder of the Muhammad Ali Trophy, presented to him in the ring by the late world heavyweight champion's wife Lonnie.

Fittingly the man whose first name translates in Ukrainian as Alexander is now undisputedly the greatest in the cruiserweight division and has a style much reminiscent of Ali, dancing and jabbing and at times seeming to float like a boxing butterfly while landing stinging punches.

He also happens to share the same birthday as Ali - January 17.

The Olympic gold medallist at London 2012, Usyk, 31, came into the bout as the holder of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC) belts. 

Gassiev, 24, who was unbeaten in 26 fights before facing Usyk, was the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion.

The World Boxing Super Series tournament started in September 2017 and the final was scheduled to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in May, but Usyk suffered an elbow injury.

The ring artist from the fistic conveyor belt land of the Klitschkos and Vasily Lomachenko has been one of boxing's best kept secrets.

The slick southpaw is a sensational boxer, with an expert grasp of ringcraft. He is technically outstanding and surprisingly light on his feet for a man of 6ft 3in.

He delivered a punch perfect masterclass to defeat his heavier hitting Russian rival by a wide unanimous decision.

After just 15 bouts, the majority of which saw him travel abroad to take on fighters in their own backyard, he has become the first fighter in boxing history to hold all of the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine world cruiserweight world titles.

It was the first time the titles had been unified since Evander Holyfield back in the late 1990s and, like The Real Deal, Usyk is set to move up and launch an attack on the heavyweight crown.

This was billed as a 50-50 fight, pitting Usyk’s boxing skill against the similarly unbeaten Gassiev's own skill set and punching power, but it was barely a contest.

The jabbing Usyk kept a consistent workrate and made it difficult for Gassiev to get inside and pressure him. As the fight progressed, Usyk turned up the heat with crisp combination punching and superb footwork.

Gassiev could only work in single power shots and an emphasis on attacking the body.

Towards the second half of the fight, Usyk really left no doubt who was the better of the world's two best cruiserweights. Gassiev was often stopped in his tracks by Usyk’s speed and precision.

Gassiev, 24, looked very slow and he was giving away reach and speed against Usyk.

It did look as if Gassiev was a combination of tired and hurt in the final two rounds, as Usyk turned in a performance that emulated that of his good friend, compatriot and fellow Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko.

In the end, the final lop-sided scorecards read 120-108, 119-109, and 119-109.

Interestingly, the German-orchestrated Super Series, which in September will feature a super-middleweight final between Britons George Groves and Callum Smith, has introduced a scoring system designed always to produce a winner - never a draw.

If the three judges' cards score it level it will go to a fourth judge to decide. Obviously better than a penalty punch shoot-out.

What Usyk has accomplished since turning pro in 2013 is nothing short of remarkable. Now it is onwards and upwards. Literally.

The former super featherweight world champion Naseem Hamed, a pundit for ITV Box Office, which screened the fight live, reckons Usyk would give IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder problems in the future when he moves up in weights.

"I honestly think he would give Anthony Joshua a run for his money," said Hamed "I would like to see him fight AJ. He can work for 12 rounds. He would give Anthony serious problems. I think he can do the same thing even against Wilder."

However, Usyk says he wants to fight former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew next, and his challenge has been accepted. The only thing that needs to be decided is when, where and what weight class the fight will be held at.

Usyk says he would be willing to face the 35-year-old Bellew at heavyweight if he's not interested in coming down in weight. "If he wants to fight at heavyweight, I'll just eat more pasta," he grins.

Whatever - Usyk must vie with Lomachenko, Gennady Golovkin and Terence Crawford as the world's top pound-for pound fighter.

As the Russians now know, a new Tsar has been born. And he's from Ukraine.